Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #BUTINA
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Good morning. You are doing the good work. Good luck. @JacksonLeeTX18 @RepJerryNadler @davidcicilline @ericswalwell @RepMGS #ImpeachmentHearings
#BREAKING Maria #BUTINA has been sentenced to 18 MONTHS in prison for conspiring to act as an agent for the Russian government in the United States (she will get credit for the 9 months she's already served) via @ZoeTillman
#BREAKING Judge sentences Russian activist Maria #BUTINA to 18 monthsāthe maximumāfor conspiring to infiltrate US conservative political groups, including the @NRA, failing to register as a foreign agent working in Russiaās interests washingtonpost.com/local/legal-isā¦
In NEW sentencing memo on Maria BUTINA, prosecutors seek 24 month sentence, saying tho not a traditional spy, her deception as an "access" agent, identifying vulnerable networks and individuals for Russia's spies to conduct influence operations, was integral to her crime. 
Correction: Prosecutors ask for an 18-month sentence for Russian agent Maria #Butina, a downward departure from the 24 months recommended in the sentencing guidelines because of her cooperation assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5972ā¦ via @ZoeTillman
This thread has a link to an article by @KirkseniyaSF discussing #Butina serving as an "access" agent for Russia's trained spies
The NRA Embraced Russiaās Maria ButinaāEven As She Worked to Arm Anti-American Thugs Who Seized Crimea From Ukraine - ā¦@MotherJonesā© motherjones.com/politics/2019/ā¦
ā¼ļøAs NRA welcomed #Butina, she was aiding Putin's military takeover Crimea. Right after March 2014 invasion & annexation, Butina denounced sanctions & went to Crimea to promote arming militants who seized Crimean "pro-American" news outletārepurposing it for Kremlin propaganda.
The day Obama announced sanctions (March 17, 2014) after Putin's military used an illegal referendum to declare Crimea part of Russiaā#Butina warned that US sanctions would ābankrupt the Russian arms industry." She then mobilized to support & arm separatist "Crimean Front" thugs.
NEW: Torshin's "tantalizing offer" to Butina's boyfriend Erickson, setting up NRA trip to Moscow: to meet Putin. Erickson said the trip could have āenormous diplomatic consequences.ā (Nov 2015ājust months before Russia's election attack went full throttle) thedailybeast.com/nra-heavyweighā¦
>> NRA Backchannel to Russia: Butina's boyfriend Erickson emailed NRA pres Keene saying NRA trip to Moscow could help ease relations between Russia & the US "by creating a way for the Kremlin to connect with a future Republican president." PM Rogozin & even Lavrov met w/ them.
How many backchannels to Russia did Trump have/need?? Kushner, Jr/Agalarovs, Manafort, Prince, Cohen/Sater, Flynn, Stone, NRAā¦ š¤ÆRepublicans wanted a backchannel to our adversary, who invaded its neighbor, shot down civilian airliner MH17, annexed a chunk of Europeā¼ļø#Maddow
Call it what it is: Paul Whelan is a hostage of Putinās lawless state. See my previous Tweets on this topic. Russian lawmakers have been openly brainstorming on state TV about arresting ANY Americans in retaliation for #Butina.
#Russia
#Russia
Here is a statement from Paulās family:
1. @maddow I looked at the Maria #Butina docket. No 71 that you addressed was followed by three other sealed documents. Usually motions are a single number with sub-parts so quite possibly these are substantive filings. Superseding indictment comes to mind. @Lawrence @Maddowbog
2. I would look at Butina indictment and find a class of co-conspirators who might be charged. NRA possible. But we know she was really good at making friends in high places. š
3. I noticed that one of the missing documents was likely the December 17 minute order that this filing addressed. That was sealed but I guess after the errant disclosure in 71 they filed this in the clear.
#BREAKING Maria Butina pleads guiltyāthe first Russian national convicted of trying to influence US policy during the 2016 election. She infiltrated top American political circles using guns (NRA), religion and Republicans. washingtonpost.com/news/politics/ā¦
Maria #Butina pleads guilty to engaging in conspiracy against US - CNNPolitics cnn.com/2018/12/13/polā¦
"Butina sought to establish unofficial lines of communication with Americans having power and influence over US politics." She infiltrated the NRA & religious groups to bolster Russian interests. She said in court today she acted "under direction of" a Russian official (Torshin).
There's always more >> Accused spy Maria #Butina turned on her Russian charm to secure Russian jet fuel deal with David Keene, NRA president & prominent leader of the conservative movement, his lobbyist wife, & her boyfriend Erickson ā The New York Times nytimes.com/2018/09/02/us/ā¦
THREAD on sloppy NYT piece on #Butina. See @john_sipher who says she's not a professional spy but an 'access agent teeing up fools for Russia to compromise.' She develops access & provides targeting information to the professionals, so they know who's vulnerable, who to go after.
@john_sipher There are spies and there are spies. Russia has a dizzying array of intelligence agents, special services & proxies, formal professionals & informal agents like Maria #Butina. @KirkseniyaSF reviews some of the nuances in @KyivPost kyivpost.com/article/opinioā¦ cc @SethAbramson @nytimes
So Maria #Butina also hit up JD Gordon, Trump campaign natsec adviser who notably changed GOP platform on Ukraine to pro-Russia position. (Erickson sounds like her handler and pimp in this WaPo story about her final weeks of 2016 campaign) washingtonpost.com/politics/trumpā¦
JD Gordon once said Trump campaign was too disorganized to collude with Russians. Yet he fell right into Butina's honey pot. As I've said before, disorganized and stupid coupled w/ desperation is precisely what made team Trump easy prey for Russian spies.
A simple google search would make you wonder about #Butina. Gun rights are an absurdity in Russia, where more basic rights are lacking. She hangs with Torshin, a Kremlin banker w/ mob ties. But instead of calling FBI, Trump aide Gordon invites her to drinks & a Styx concert (yup)
What a Russian disinformation campaign looks like: gaslighting, lies, whataboutism and the requisite FU trollingāto deny, distract, dismay. #Butina is literally now the face of Kremlin MFA. Complete w/ hashtag #FreeMariaButinaāwhile Russia jails political prisonersĀ”!#FreeSentsov
btw This crazy "#FreeMariaButina" disinformation campaign advanced directly from the Russian Foreign Ministry kinda proves US was right to argue Russian diplomats might scoop her up, making her a flight risk. Kudos to prosecutors & judge for the right call rferl.org/a/guns-sex-andā¦
Maria Butina gets around. Before her gig infiltrating NRA & Republicans, she pushed Russian propaganda in E Ukraine to promote Russia's invasion. At 2014 Donbas rally she trashed new Kyiv govt & said ppl should support "separatists" enigma.ua/articles/krasnā¦
š£OurPearlHarborš£
Putinās Attack on the U.S. Is Our Pearl Harbor
Make no mistake: Hacking the 2016 election was an act of war. Itās time we responded accordingly.
Former CIA Dir John Brennan called Trumpās performance in Helinski "nothing short of treasonous."
Putinās Attack on the U.S. Is Our Pearl Harbor
Make no mistake: Hacking the 2016 election was an act of war. Itās time we responded accordingly.
Former CIA Dir John Brennan called Trumpās performance in Helinski "nothing short of treasonous."
š£OurPearlHarbor2š£
45 sold out his country to RU, then proudly affirmed it, live on camera. Ā
A former intel agency chief just asked, "If the RUs didn't write 45ās talking points, how could you tell?"
Trump called the US invān of the interference āa disaster for our country.ā
45 sold out his country to RU, then proudly affirmed it, live on camera. Ā
A former intel agency chief just asked, "If the RUs didn't write 45ās talking points, how could you tell?"
Trump called the US invān of the interference āa disaster for our country.ā
š£OurPearlHarbor2š£3
Comey: This was the day an US POTUS stood on foreign soil next to a murderous lying thug and refused to back his own country. Patriots need to stand up and reject the behavior of this president.
Trump sides with Putin & GRU over US interests, our CIA & DOJ
Comey: This was the day an US POTUS stood on foreign soil next to a murderous lying thug and refused to back his own country. Patriots need to stand up and reject the behavior of this president.
Trump sides with Putin & GRU over US interests, our CIA & DOJ
